Spoon, fork, or like article



April 23, 1940. s TRUMBULL 2,198,355

SPOON, FORK, OR LIKE ARTICLE Filed June 2, 1939 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOON, FORK, R LIKE ARTICLE Frank S. Trumbull, Providence, R. I.

Application June 2, 1939, Serial No. 277,038

7 Claims: (01. 41-24) This invention relates to flatware, more particularly to handles for spoons or forks or like articles and has for one of its objects to produce a design upon the handle of the spoon or fork which will cause the same to have an attractive and rich appearance.

Another object of the invention is .to provide for ornamentation extending over the tip end of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a raised design on the tip of the handle with design extending over the endof the handle and conforming with a design struck on the back. of the handle.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a raised design on the front of the handle by deflecting the stock of the handle and stretching it, at the same time providing a recess in the back of the handle and then filling the back and 20 ornamenting the filled portion.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the face of the handle as applied to a spoon.

Fig. 2 is a rear View of this handle.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

30 Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3 with the filler member omitted.

Fig. 5 is a section view of the filler member.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3 before the rear face has been struck.

55 .Fig. 7 shows an operation in the formation of the design on the tip of the handle.

In the ornamenting or silverware such, for instance, as spoons, forks or the like, some embossing is usually used upon the face or back surface W of the handle to enhance the appearance of the same. The thickness of the stock limits the embossing which may be had and the amount that the relief may be raised from the stock of the handle and in order to provide a greater raised portion I have arranged todeflect the stock of the handle by striking the back of the same to raise the front and then I fill the back and proceed with the second striking of the design on the back, it being customary practice to strike silverware twice in the formation of a design on the handle, not necessarily for the purpose of providing the design any different or better, but for the purpose of setting the temper correctly in the handle, and the following is 5 a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, in designates the handle of a spoon having a bowl portion M. In the formation of the design i3 upon the front and M upon the back of the handle, the blank stock after being suitably cut is struck so as to provide the proper surface embellishment I3 on the face of the lower portion of the handle and 19 i5 upon the face of the end portion and at the same time I recess this end portion adjacent the tip it of the handle as at H to provide a protuberance 18 on the face of the handle at the same time that the design i5 is struck on this deflected end portion.

After this striking has been accomplished the filler member l9, which substantially is of the shape and size of the recess formation H is po sitioned within the recess and soldered therein as at 20 and then the second striking, which is usual in making silverware, takes place and at the time that I make this second striking I then place the design M in the back of the handle and at the same time strike the design as at 2! in the member [9 and about the member l9 so that this insert will harmonize well with the remaining portion of the handle.

At the time of striking the designs l3, l5, l4

and 2| a part of a bead as 22 will be raised on so one surface and a corresponding part of the bead 22 will be raised on the opposite surface. Likewise corresponding portions of riblike formations 23 will be formed and to finish the article I hand file the tip by an instrument such as 24 so as to form these beads and ribs in a manner so that they have the appearance of extending over the end of the tip similar to a formation which might be provided by bending the stock and yet I provide a spoon handle which has a very highly raised portion and is much stronger and firmer and has no hollows or recesses in which foreign particles may collect and thus the tip is one which has all of the design characters desired and yet one which is stronger and more practical for use.

The foregoing description is directed towards the method and construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the equivalent changes to which the construction and method are susceptible, the invention being defined and. limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a handle for a spoon, fork or the like, a portion of the stock of the handle raised on one face a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the handle and recessed in the opposite face, said recess having located and secured therein a filler member to substantially fill and generally conform to the surface adjacent the recess;

2. In a handle for a spoon, fork or the like, a portion of the stock of the handle raised on one face and recessed in the opposite face and with the outer surface of the raised portion provided with an embossed design thereon, said recess having located and soldered therein a filler member to substantially fill and conform to the surface adjacent the recess.

3. In a handle for a spoon, fork or the, like, a portion of the stock of the handle raised on one face adjacent the end extremity of the handle and recessed in the opposite face, said recess having located and soldered therein a filler member to substantially fill and conform to the surface adjacent the recess, said raised portion having a design embossed thereon extending into and over the end edge surface of the handle and into the exposed surface of the said filler member.

4. In a handle for a spoon, fork or the like, a portion of the stock of the handle raised on one face a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the stock of the handle and recessed in the opposite face and with the outer surface of the raised portion provided with an embossed design thereon, said recess having located and soldered therein a filler member to substantially fill and. conform to the surface adjacent the'recess, said filler member and the recessed face having embossing thereon.

5. In a handle for a spoon, fork or the like, a portion of the stock of the handle raised on one face a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the stock of the handle and recessed in the opposite face and with the outer surface of the raised portion provided with an embossed design thereon, said recess having located and soldered therein a filler member of a size to substantially fill and conform to the surface adjacent the recess, design embossing raised on the recessed face and on the end edge surface of the handle, said designs on the said outer surface and the recessed face extending near the tip of the handle and blending into said tip design,

6. The method of forming ornamentation on the handle of a spoon, fork or the like, comprising deflecting the stock of the handle to provide a recess in one surface and a projection on the opposite surface, securing a filling in said recess to substantially fill the recess, and shaping the exposed surface of said filling to generally conform to the surface adjacent thereto.

'7. The method of forming ornamentation on the handle of a spoon, fork or the like comprising deflecting the stock of the handle by striking to provide a recess in one surface and a projection on the opposite surface, and at the same time embossing theprojected surface, securing a filling in said recess to substantially fill the recess, and striking a design in the surface about the recess and the exposed surface of the filler.

, FRANK S. TRUMBULL. 

